This video shows how to find textbooks at Milner Library. Generally, the library is unable to purchase every textbook that is needed for all courses. However, you can always check to see if what you need might be available.
View the Video Transcript
To learn more about finding textbooks, view the Textbooks guide.
This video shows you how to find textbooks available at Milner Library.
There are 3 ways to check to see if Milner has your textbook.
One, Course Reserves, Two, the Library Catalog, and Three, All I-Share Libraries.
First, check Course Reserves to see if your professor put a copy of the textbook on reserve.
On the library's home page, go to the search box under Start Your Research.
Change the Everything dropdown to Course Reserves.
Type in the course three letter abbreviation and number.
Click the Search button
Scroll through the results to see if the book is listed.
If it is, check the item location and availability
The course reserve location will show as Floor 2 Course Reserve Desk: Building Use Only.
Check to make sure the textbook shows Available.
Check out the textbook at the Service Desk on Floor 2.
You can use the textbook for two hours in the library.
You can also scan pages to pdf at any of the scanning stations in the library.
If the textbook is not on Course Reserves, next check Milner’s catalog.
By the search box at the top of the page, change Course Reserves to Library Catalog in the drop down menu.
Clear the search box and type in the textbook title. For a more precise search include the author’s name.
We recommend searching by title and author instead of ISBN because we might have multiple versions of the exact same book.
Click the Search button.
Scroll through the results to see if the book is listed.
Make sure the book is listed as Available.
Make note of the location and the call number to find the book on the shelves.
The third option is searching the I-Share catalog, which searches over 90 libraries across Illinois.
By the search box at the top of the page, change Library Catalog to All I-Share Libraries in the drop down menu.
Click the Search button or type in the book’s title and then press the Search button.
Scroll through the results to see if the book is listed.
If it is, click the book’s title.
Scroll down to the How to get it section to see which I-Share libraries have the book.
Click the Sign in link next to Please sign in to check if there are any request options.
If prompted, login via Central Login.
Click Request from another Illinois library (I-Share) .
If the item is available to request, select Illinois State University (ISU) —Normal as your Preferred Pickup Institution.
Select Milner Library in the Preferred Local Pickup Location drop down
Click the Send Request button.
You’ll get an email message to your ISU email account when the book is ready for you to pick up at the Service Desk on Floor 2 of Milner Library.
If you have questions, use the Ask Us options on the library website to chat, text, email, or call, contact your subject librarian, or view our FAQs. Or, visit the Service Desk on Floor 2. We’re happy to help!